Red Sox shortstop prospect C.J. Chatham has received worked at second base in the Arizona Fall League. He started there Saturday and went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs to help lead Peoria over Salt Lake 9-7.
Chatham, who batted cleanup, is 12-for-40 (.300) with a .364 on-base percentage, .400 slugging percentage, .764 OPS, four doubles, six RBIs, 11 runs and three stolen bases in 10 Arizona Fall League games.
With Dustin Pedroia’s status unknown heading into 2020, Chatham is a second base candidate for the Red Sox. Boston will add him to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from Rule 5 Draft eligibility.
Chatham, Marco Hernandez and Michael Chavis all are candidates to play second for the 2020 Red Sox. Chavis also could start at first base.
Boston could re-sign Brock Holt but that has looked less likely as ownership tries to slash payroll for 2020.
The Red Sox drafted the 24-year-old Chatham with their second-round pick in 2016. He played only shortstop in his professional career until the 2019 season. He started 12 games at second base late in the year for Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket.
The 6-foot-4 right-handed hitter finished strong at Pawtucket with a .302/.330/.430/.760 line, two homers, five doubles and 10 RBIs in 20 games.